Seven loggerhead turtles born on a Benidorm beach last summer are set to make an emotional return to the Mediterranean after spending more than a year being cared for by marine wildlife specialists.
The young turtles will be released into the sea at Poniente beach on Thursday, October 22, at 11am, following a programme at Valencia’s l’Oceanogràfic aquarium designed to prepare them for survival in the wild.
Benidorm Council has invited residents and visitors to witness the release, which will take place opposite the Marconi Hotel, near number 34 Calle San Pedro.
Surprise hatchlings on a popular tourist beach
The story began on the night of August 7, 2025, when loggerhead turtle hatchlings emerged from their eggs on Levante beach, surprising holidaymakers and pedestrians along the busy seafront.
Dozens of baby turtles hatched that night. While 30 were returned to the sea at nearby Ti Ximo cove just hours later, seven were taken to l’Oceanogràfic in Valencia for specialist care.
They have remained at the aquarium ever since, with experts monitoring their development before deciding when they would be ready to return to their natural environment.
According to Benidorm’s environmental councillor, Mónica Gómez, specialists have now confirmed that the seven turtles have reached a sufficient size and strength to cope with life in the Mediterranean.
Their release will also bring them back to the same coastal city where they first emerged from their eggs.
Schoolchildren invited to witness release
The event is being organised by Benidorm Council in collaboration with l’Oceanogràfic, with an educational focus on protecting marine wildlife and the biodiversity of the Mediterranean.
Pupils from three local schools are expected to attend: CEIP Ausiàs March, CEIP El Murtal and Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. Staff from Serra Gelada Natural Park will also participate.
The council hopes the occasion will help younger generations understand the importance of safeguarding the coastline and the wildlife that depends on it.
Loggerhead turtles have chosen Benidorm’s beaches to lay their eggs in each of the past two years, a development that highlights the importance of protecting nesting sites along the coast.
Gómez has encouraged members of the public to head to Poniente beach on Thursday to watch the seven turtles begin the next stage of their lives.
For the young reptiles, the release marks the end of months of specialist care and the beginning of a return to the open sea, where they will face the challenges of surviving in their natural habitat.